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COMMITTEE:    LOCAL ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT

                        SCRUTINY COMMITTEE  

                            

DAY/DATE:       TUESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2007   

TIME:               2.00PM

VENUE:            COUNCIL CHAMBER  

                        MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS 

                        EARLE STREET 

                        CREWE 

 

 

Despatch date:      3 September 2007 

Enquiries to:         Joanne Smith      

Tel: 01270 537032

Fax: 01270 537605

Email: agendas@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

      

 

Chair:     Cllr Peter Hallett    

Tel/Fax: 01270 663549

Email: cllr.peter.hallett@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

           

 

To:  Members of Local Economy & Environment Scrutiny Committee

[Cllrs Campbell, Cartlidge, Crawford, Hallett, Healey, Hollins, Johnson, Mottram, Parker, S Roberts, Stafford and Wood]          

Chief Executive, Executive Directors, Assistant Chief Executive

Local Press and Radio

 

 

 

Notes for Members of the Public

 

The Local Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee consists of 12 elected Members and Councillor Peter Hallett is the Chair.  There are 6 Conservative, 4 Labour, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Independent Member.

 

The Borough Council welcomes and encourages members of the public to attend its Committee, Board and Council meetings.

If you plan to attend, please report to the Reception Desk in the Municipal Buildings, where you will be provided with a Visitor’s Pass.

Car parking is not available at the Municipal Buildings, but there are several town centre car parks.  There is a disabled access to the rear of the Municipal Buildings, and this can be accessed through the side door on Vernon Way. Please press the button for attention, and someone will meet you and escort you through to the main reception area.

You are asked to remain quiet whilst the meeting is taking place, and to enter and leave the meeting room, or public gallery of the Council Chamber, as quietly as possible. Please ensure that if you have a mobile phone or pager, it is switched off for the duration of the meeting.

You are not allowed to have drinks or food in the meeting rooms, nor in the Public Gallery.  A “No Smoking” policy operates in the Municipal Buildings.

 

 

Fire Evacuation

If the fire alarm rings, you should make your way to the nearest exit with your belongings, as quickly as possible, and leave the building. Please follow any instructions from staff about evacuation routes.

Copies of the agenda will be available if you attend. Agendas are also made available on the Internet and can be accessed via the Council’s website – see front page for details.

On occasions, members of the press and public will be excluded from the meetings when the business to be transacted is of a confidential nature, for example, dealing with individual people, contracts and financial affairs of other parties.

If you require any further information, please contact Joanne Smith the Committee Officer (details on front page).

 

 


AGENDA

 

PART 1 CONSTITUTIONAL BUSINESS 2.00PM – 2.05PM

 

1.                  Apologies

 

2.                  Declarations of Interest

 

Any Member present (including non-Committee Members) to declare any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, in any item of business on the agenda and, if necessary, to leave the meeting prior to discussion on that item.  

Members who also serve as County, Town or Parish Councillors are reminded of the need to make declarations in respect of any item which directly concerns the business of the appropriate authority. 

Declarations are a personal matter for each Member to decide. Whilst officers will advise on the Code of Conduct and its interpretation, the decision to declare, or not, is the responsibility of the Member, based on the particular circumstances.    

 


3.        Record of Meeting

 

To approve as correct the record of the meeting held on 7 August 2007 (3).


4.         Whipping Declarations

 

Members to declare in respect of items where the whip has been applied. 

 

PART II BOARD/COUNCIL BUSINESS 2.05PM – 2.30PM


5.         Responses from the Board

 

No comments were forwarded to the Board from the Committee’s meeting on 3 August 2007; therefore there are no responses to report.  


6.         Referrals from the Board/Council

 

To consider any matters which the Board or Council may have referred to the Committee.


 


7.         Forward Plan of Board Decisions

 

To consider the Board's Forward Plan for 15 November 2007 and 3 January 2008

[7a and b respectively]  

 

PART III COMMITTEE BUSINESS 2.30PM ONWARDS  


8.         Public Art Strategy

 

The Public Art Strategy; to be considered by the Board at its September meeting, outlines the strategy’s contribution towards major redevelopment in the Borough of Crewe & Nantwich by means of developing a quality public realm which will enhance projects that enable greater access to the countryside, cultural development, community engagement and tourism. 

Cathy Newbery, who gave a presentation on the topic at full Council on 27 June 2007, will be in attendance to update Members on the current position and explore the role of the Local Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee in delivering the strategy.          


9.         Local Area Agreements: 4th Block Economic Development  

 

The majority of Local Area Agreements (LAAs) are focussed around four ‘blocks’: Children and Young People; Safer and Stronger Communities; Healthier Communities and Older People, and Economic Development and Enterprise.  The fourth block will better enable local areas to build a stronger economic element in their LAAs, including better integration of local economic partners.

The Committee is to receive a presentation on the Local Area Agreement: 4th Block Economic Development at its meeting in October and to set the scene, a short briefing paper is attached (9).           


10.      Homes for the Future: More Affordable, More Sustainable – Housing Green Paper

 

The Housing Green Paper “Homes for the Future: More Affordable, More Sustainable” seeks views on the Government's proposals to increase the supply of housing, to provide well designed and greener homes that are supported by infrastructure and to provide more affordable homes to buy or rent.

The Head of Housing will be attendance to outline the implications for the Council of the government’s green paper (10).   


11.      Crewe Town Centre Update

 

To receive an update on Town Centre developments.   

 


12.      Vacancy Panel Decisions

 

To receive an update on the management of vacant posts which fall under the remit of the Committee (12). 


13.      Dog Control Order

 

At its meeting in April 2007, the Committee considered four of the elements which would form part of a proposed Dog Control Order: 

·        Fouling of land by dogs

·        Dogs on leads

·        Number of dogs which a person may take on to land

·        Penalty notices 

 

At the time it was agreed that the remaining proposal, Dog Exclusion would be considered at a future meeting. 

In the interim, a consultation exercise has been conducted on the proposals set out in the Order. The report of the Consultation Manager (13) provides an objective summary of the responses received, highlighting emerging themes.       


14.      Work Programme

 

14.1    Task Group Update          

 

To receive update reports, if appropriate from the Committee’s Task Groups –

 

·        Climate Change

·        Town Centres

·        Waste Management    


15.       Date of Next Meeting

16th October 2007